Multiple disk brake



May 1945- H. T. LAMBERT MULTIPLE DISK BRAKE Fild JL me 28, 1944 3Sheets--Sheet l 5 4 5 H. T. LAMBERT 2,375,855

MULTIPLE DISK BRAKE Filed June 28, 1944 3 Shets-Sheet 2 a f 8 M 6 7155?.Q l 6 5 5O 254 Q Q56 Q mm? In; 252 I 3.55% @5 5. fiim May 15, 1945. H.T. LAMBERT MULTIPLE DISK BRAKE Filed June 28, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 n61A, L

/..I k\ l 5 w 6 s rGOII I I l l T; 1 5 n 4 W a 5 s A Patented May 15,1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE DISK BRAKE Homer '1..Lambert,-St. Joseph, Micln,.-assig'nor to Lambert Brake Corporation, St;J ose'ph, Mich, a corporation-of Michigan 6 Claims.

This invention relatesito disk" brakes of the self-energizing orservo-actuateditypa and more especially to brakes of this characterwhich are applicable to heavy duty service, such as for heavy industrialmachinery, passenger and freight e carrying vehicles, including,automobiles, trucks,

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved disk brakeembodying a novel and efiicient arrangement of multiple disks by whichthe seli-energizat'ion is multiplied without undue complication of thebrake design, and which may be applied to existing or known brakestructures with but slight modification of the design.

A still .further object of the invention is to provide a simple, compactand sturdy disk brake employing multiple disks, and which may be on:erated by" either pneumatic or hydraulic fluid ressure; while'requiririgless pressure than is ordinarily necessary in present-day conventional.

brakes; the increased efiicieric'y of my improvedbrake; there is lesswearan'd strain on the brake li'n ings and other operating parts of thebrake;

()ther and further"objects and advantages of the inventionwill behereinafter set forth" and the novel features thereof definedby-the'appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is" a vertical sectional View taken through a brake constructedin accordance withv this invention, as applied to a vehicle Wheel, theaxle and other parts of the wheel assembly'being shown in elevation;

FigureZ'is'a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2--2 "ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentarysectional' view of a,

modified form of brake, and which is of the open type to allow effectiveventilation Due to" this re'du'ction'in' pressure and Figure-4 isa'fragmentary sectional viewtake'n Figure 5 is a fragmentary verticalsectional View of still another modified form of brake,generally'correspondihg tothe form oi Figur'e" l but employing agreater: number of friction disks; and.

Figure 6'i's aiiaginentaiy sectional view taken on the line (i o ofFigure 5.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawings'.

briefly referred toby way of 'illustrationof the application of thebrake to a vehicle wheel, whi'ch' is generally designated 1', operatingon'an" axle Zinou'nted in a housing, 3. The housing ?is provided with anannular flange 4 on which the brake unit is mounted. by means of theboltsti' The. brake unit includes a drum-like casin or frame 6 to oneend of which is attacheda secondary brake disk 1 removably securedthereto by means of bolts 8 extending therethrough at spaced intervalsabout the disk. Within the casing orhousirig 6 adjacent to its endopposite to the secondary brake disk I is formed a partition 9 whichdivides the housing into two chainbers respectively'des'ig'nated In andH; The open" end'of the chamber H is normally closed an annular coverplate I2 having an opening" l3' therein'ada ted to 1 be connected to apressure fluid/system of any suitable type and. by" whienthe pressurefluid, either pneumatic or hydraulic; may be admitted for"'aotuating'the' brake in"the conventional manner; B'etweenthe coverplate 12" and the end of the'housing6 is" arranged an'annul'ar flexiblediaphragm M which" is heldinplace by the screws or bolts it which"passth'erethrough and through the cover plate to'clamp the same to thehousing. Alsodispos'ed in the chamber H is an insulated rigid ring itWhichis' free to move-axially pursuant to flexiin'gof the'diaphragm Hiin response to the pres-' sur and" release of the pressure fluidmediumacting upon thediaphragm to flex the latter.

Mounted inchamber. H1 at the opposite side of the partition 9 isapri'mary disc designated ll, whichis free to move axially and alsoslight- 1y rotativelyon its mounting shoulder Ila. This 7 primary, diskis provided with circumferentially' spaced protuberance-s or projectionsl8 which extendthrough openings IS in the partition 9', said openingsbeingsufiiciently large to accommodatethe'protuberances 18 withoutinterior ing-with the axial and rotative movements of the secondarydisk. Theouter ends of the protuberanc'es are respectively provided withan en'- large'd' head or button 20 secured thereto by a bolt 2|, thehead of which is received in a recess 22 rovided in the innerface of thering. it.

These buttons or heads 20 are also" preferably- Since the inventionhereof resides in the" brake unit pers'ethe mounting for the same needs"no detailed explanation and will be only" formed of insulating materialto minimize the transfer of heat from the primary disk I! to the ring [6and flexible diaphragm l4 during braking operations.

Interposed between the primary disk I! and the partition 9 of thehousing 6 is a plurality of cam means generally designated 23, and whichmay be either in the form of rollers 24, as shown in Figure 1, or in theform of balls 25, as shown in Figure 3, said cam means being arranged inequally spaced relation to each other about the axis of the brakeassembly and lying intermediate the protuberances or projections I 8above referred to. The balls or rollers, as the case may be, areinterposed between oppositely facing cam inserts 26 and 21 respectivelymounted in recesses in the partition 9 and the primary disk I l. Theinserts 26 and 21 are each provided with oppositely inclined cam facesso that when relative rotative movement occurs between the housing 6 andthe primar brake disk l1, the balls or rollers will roll on these camfaces and cause axial movement of the primary brake disk, as more fullydescribed in my prior patents numbered 2,099,489, dated November 16,1937, and 2,161,359 dated June 6, 1939. A coil spring 28 is disposedabout each of the protuberances l8, with one end of the sprin seating ina well 29 and the opposite end abutting against the head 20 on the endof the protuberance, so that the primary brake disk H is normally urgedaxially in th direction towards the partition 9, while yieldinglypermitting the primary brake disk to move axially in the oppositedirection responsive to the pressure fluid and camming' action of theballs or rollers previously described.

So much of the brake structure as has just been described substantiallyconforms to the structure disclosed in my co-pending application SerialNo. 525,186, filed March 6, 1944. Reference will now be made to theimportant distinctions which attain marked advantages and improved brakeefficiency over that prior brake construction.

As shown in the form of the brake illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, theprimary brake disk I! is provided with an axially extended marginalflange 30 having a series of axially projecting lugs or bosses 3| formedon its outer end and arranged in circumferentially spaced relation toeach other. Interconnected with the axially extended flange 30 of theprimar disk I! is an annular ring-32 having a series ofcircumferentially spaced recesses 33 formed at the outer margin thereofand normally loosely receiving the respective bosses 3! on the end ofthe flange 3B. Thus the ring 32 is positively fixed to the primary brakedisk I! for rotation with the latter, while at the same time permittingrelative axial movement between the ring and the secondary brake disk aswill hereinafter more fully become apparent.

Also mounted in the chamber l and arranged at opposite sides of the ring32 is a plurality of friction disks 34 and 35, there being two suchdisks in the form of the brake shown in Figure 1. These friction discs34 and 35 are each preferably provided on opposite faces thereof withfriction linings 36 and 31 suitably riveted or otherwise securedthereto. The braking surface of the primary disk [1, as well as thebraking surface of is keyed, splined, or otherwise fixed to the wheelhub 4| of the wheel proper i. Bolts 42 extending through a radial flange43 on the adapter 40 and through the flange 44 on the hub 4| arepreferably employed to rigidly connect these parts the adapter 40 so asto be freely movable axially relative thereto and relative to each otherwhile rotating with the wheel I. This connection may be obtained byproviding the outer surface of the adapter 40 with a series of splinesrespectively cooperating with mating splines on the friction disks, asindicated at 46.

In the operation of the construction of Figure 1, it will be obviousfrom the foregoing that when air or hydraulic fluid is admitted throughthe inlet I3 in the cover plate 12, the'fluid pressure acting againstthe diaphragm I4 will cause the ring it to move to the left, as viewedin this figure, which in turn urges the primary [brake disk I! to theleft, thereby engaging the braking surface of this primary disk with therotating friction disk 35. Atthe same time, the intermediate ring 32carried by the primary disk I! and arranged intermediate the frictiondisks 34 and 35 is likewise caused to move axially into engagement withthe friction disks to supplement the frictional resistance resultingfrom engagement of the main braking surface of the primary disk with thefriction disk 35. This powerful frictional resistance thereby imparts adrag to the primary brake disk l1, causing the same to rotate slightly,which in turn energizes the cam members 23 in an obvious manner,producing a powerful braking action by engagement of the brakingsurfaces of all of the disks. This braking action is so greatlymultiplied by the novel relationship of the multiple disks hereinbeforedescribed that the brake unit is fully capable of meeting and standingup under the demands attending brake applications under heavy loads andat high speeds. Moreover, the increased power of self-energizationattending the use of the multiple disk arrangement enables the brakeapplications to be made with a minimum of effort and at reducedpressures considerably below those formerly required in brakes of thistype.

The construction and operation of the modified form of brake unit, asshown in Figures 3 and 4, is much the same as has been described above,the principal difference residing in a somewhat different means ofmounting the intermediate ring 32' and the friction disks 34 and 35'.According to this modification, the primary disk H is axially extendedto provide an inner hub or sleeve 30 having spaced lugs 3| arranged onthe secondary disk 1 may each be provided with Q its end and axiallyprojecting therefrom so as to be loosely received in correspondingrecesses 33' formed in the inner edge of the ring 32. By thisarrangement, the ring is relatively fixed to the primary disk H forrotation therewith, while it is free to move axially relative thereto.The friction disks 34' and 35', on the other hand, are connected attheir outer peripheries to the wheel I by means of radial extensions 46'loosely engaged in an axially grooved connector 41 fixed to the wheel.Accordingly, the friction disks 34 and 35' are caused to be rotated withthe wheel I, while they are free to shift axially intermee brake toproduce an extremely powerful braking action.

It willbe noted that in the modified form of the brake as shown inFigure 3, the brake disks are more or less exposed by the use of ahousing 6' of somewhat different form, eliminating the chamber ll] ofthe construction shown in Figure 1. Where the conditions of use sopermit, this modified form of brake unit is equally effective as theform of Figure 1, while at the same time affording extra ventilation byreason of the open construction, to aid in the dissipation of the heatproduced by the braking action. In other respects, the brakes areessentially the same, and similar parts are designatedby the primedreference characters.

Referring to Figures and 6, these figures show another modified form ofthe invention which more closely conforms to the structure shown inFigure 1, except that the friction disks and the intermediate rings havebeen increased in number so as to still further increase the power ofself-energization and braking force of the brake. In this form of theinvention, the intermediate rings are designated 32", and the frictiondisks are designated 34". Otherwise, similar parts are represented bythe double primed reference characters. The operation of theconstruction shown in Figures 5 and 6 conforms to that previously setforth in connection with Figure 1, and, accordingly, no furtherexplanation is necessary.

It will be understood, of course, that the number of friction disks andintermediate rings shown in the different forms of the invention may beincreased to'any number desired, within practical limits, and I do notwish to be limited to the details herein shown and described, as otherchanges and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A brake unit of the class described, comprising a stationary casing,a secondary brake member carried by and fixed to the casing at one endthereof, a primary brake member arranged in axially spaced relation tothe secondary brake member and axially and rotatively movable relativethereto, a plurality of friction members disposed intermediate saidprimary and secondary brake members and axially movable relative theretoand relative to each other, certain of said friction members beinginterconnected with the a primary brake member and certain others of thefriction members being rotatable and provided with means forinterconnecting the same with a rotatable part to be braked, cam meanscoacting with the primary brake member and operable responsive torotative movement of the latter for imparting axial movement thereto andbraking engagement of the respective friction, primary and secondarybrake members, and thrust means acting upon the primary brake member forinitially engaging the friction members and the primary brake member tocause rotative movement of the latter and consequent energization of thecam means.

2. A brake unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the primary and secondarybrake members and the intermediate friction members have the form ofannular disks arranged'on a common axis, and the friction membersinclude at least two disks disposed respectively in contiguous relationto the primary and secondary brake members, and

.a third disk intermediate the two disks aforesaid.

3. A brake unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the primary and secondarybrake members and the intermediate friction members have the-form ofannular disks arranged on a common axis, and the friction membersinclude alternately rotatable and relatively fixed disks.

4. A brake unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the primary and secondarybrake members and the intermediate friction members have the form ofannular disks arranged on a common axis, and the primary brake member isaxially extended for interconnection with certain of the intermediatefriction disks.

5. A brake unit as defined in claim 1, wherein the means forinterconnecting certain of the friction members with the rotatable partto be braked includes an annular part on which the friction members areslidably mounted, said annular part having a radially extended flange atone end thereof for connection with the part to be braked.

6. In servo brake mechanism for vehicle wheels, the combination of aframe, a stationary friction member at one end thereof, a plurality ofdisks rotatably mounted between the frame and the stationary frictionmember aforesaid in spaced relation to each other and o-perativelyconnected to a wheel to be braked, a plurality of friction disksarranged to coact with said rotatable disks to impart braking action,said friction disks comprising a primary disk axially movable intobraking contact with one of said rotatable disks and slightly rotatabletherewith and having thereon a mounting on which the other frictiondisks are slidable relative to the coacting rotatable disks to be brakedand also rotatable with the primary disk, actuating means for shiftingthe primary disk and the friction disks thereon into braking relation tothe rotatable disks, and energizing means operable upon. such shiftingand rotative movement of the primary disk to set up simultaneousenergization of all of the friction disks.

HOMER. T. LAMBERT.

